By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A POLICE officer was hospitalised with a foot injury suffered in the final moments of a two-hour police chase in Dandenong and Moorabbin last Thursday afternoon.
Two Narre Warren men and a 17-year-old Dandenong boy were taken into custody after a suspected stolen blue VL Commodore sedan was crunched between two police vehicles at the intersection of Frankston-Dandenong and Greens roads, Dandenong South, just after 4pm.
The men, both 18, were charged with conduct endangering life, theft and traffic offences.
Detective Sergeant Miro Majstorovic said this morning that the car, alleged to have been stolen in Pakenham two nights earlier, was seen doing burnouts and doughnuts in Moorabbin about 1.50pm.
Then followed two police pursuits, including on EastLink and Nepean Highway, that were abandoned because the Commodore was deemed by police to have been driven dangerously.
Detective Majstorovic said the sedan was repeatedly driven on the wrong side of the road, which forced cars to swerve.
It was also driven on traffic islands and through pedestrian crossings and red lights at speed, he said.
With the road pursuits called off, the police airwing followed the car until Stop Sticks — quills that penetrate a tyre and act as valves to release air at a controlled rate — were used to halt it at Worsley Road, Bangholme at 3.45pm.
The car continued on Hammond and Greens roads — driving on a front wheel rim — until it was boxed in by police at Dandenong South.
‘‘Once the tyre was blown off, it was an endangerment to other vehicles. A decision was made to end it there,’’ Detective Majstorovic said.
He said a police officer’s foot was crushed between the sedan and a police vehicle’s door when the driver of the sedan tried to reverse from the scene.
He said the officer had resumed light work duties this week.
‘‘Her injuries are serious but not severe,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re pleased there were no injuries to the public and that we arrested all three.’’
The occupants were also thought to have snatched a bag at Moorabbin DFO and stole food from a Dingley Village convenience store.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000.
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